Justice Delayed, But Never Delivered: Yellowstone and Four Other Shows Ripe for a Mass Incarceration Finale
Television often indulges in moral ambiguity, blurring the lines between right and wrong to craft compelling narratives. We root for anti-heroes, sympathize with flawed protagonists, and accept compromises in the name of entertainment. However, some shows push the boundaries of acceptable behavior so far that a happy ending feels not only unearned, but actively unjust. These narratives, brimming with violence, corruption, and blatant disregard for the law, cry out for a final act of accountability: every single character, major and minor, ending up behind bars. "Yellowstone" is a prime example, but it stands alongside a rogue’s gallery of other shows whose moral compromises demand a satisfyingly bitter denouement in the form of mass incarceration.
Yellowstone: Duttons Behind Bars, Forevermore. The Dutton family of "Yellowstone" operates under a twisted logic: maintain their legacy ranch at all costs, even if it means murder, intimidation, and blatant disregard for the rule of law. John Dutton, the patriarch, is a master manipulator, using his power as governor to further his family's interests, often with brutal efficiency. His children, Kayce, Beth, and Jamie, are equally culpable, each responsible for a litany of crimes ranging from assault and battery to orchestrated killings. The ranch hands are essentially a private army, loyal to the Duttons and willing to commit heinous acts on their behalf. By the end of its run, "Yellowstone" needs a reckoning. Forget land development deals and political maneuvering. The final scene should be the entire Dutton clan, along with their loyal ranch hands, being led away in handcuffs, charged with everything from racketeering and murder to obstruction of justice. The camera pans over the vacant ranch, a monument to their criminal enterprise, finally reclaimed by the very justice they so often circumvented.
Beyond the sprawling landscapes of Montana, other shows equally deserve this fate.
Sons of Anarchy: A Motorcycle Club Meltdown. The motorcycle club SAMCRO in "Sons of Anarchy" engages in a dizzying array of illegal activities. Gun running, drug dealing, murder, extortion – they seem to invent new crimes on a weekly basis. While the show explored the club's internal struggles and the moral cost of their actions, it often romanticized their outlaw lifestyle. A satisfying ending wouldn't be about individual redemption or tragic deaths, but about collective accountability. Imagine the series concluding with a massive RICO indictment, netting everyone from the club leaders to the prospects, all facing decades in prison. The roar of the engines is replaced by the clang of prison doors, a fitting end to their reign of terror.
Peaky Blinders: Razor Sharp Justice. The Shelby family in "Peaky Blinders" rises from the slums of Birmingham to become a powerful criminal syndicate. While the show expertly portrays their ambition and cunning, it also glosses over the immense harm they inflict. The Blinders' rise to power is paved with violence, extortion, and the exploitation of vulnerable communities. Instead of a triumphant return to the family estate, the final episode should feature a coordinated police raid, spearheaded by a dogged investigator who refuses to be intimidated. Seeing Tommy Shelby, stripped of his influence and facing a lifetime behind bars, alongside his equally culpable family, would provide a far more impactful conclusion than the vague promises of redemption the series sometimes offers.
Breaking Bad: A Legacy of Destruction. Walter White's transformation from a meek chemistry teacher to a ruthless drug kingpin in "Breaking Bad" is a masterclass in character development. However, his actions have devastating consequences, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake. While Walt ultimately accepts some responsibility for his actions, many of his associates escape justice. The show's final scene, while emotionally resonant, feels somewhat incomplete. A truly satisfying ending would have seen Jesse Pinkman, no matter how sympathetic, held accountable for his participation in the drug trade. The remaining players in Walt's criminal enterprise, from Saul Goodman to the various meth distributors, should all face the consequences of their choices, ensuring that the entire criminal network is dismantled.
Ozark: The Byrdes in a Cage. Marty and Wendy Byrde, the seemingly ordinary couple laundering money for a Mexican drug cartel in "Ozark," become increasingly entangled in a web of lies and violence. Their attempts to protect their family lead them to make increasingly morally compromising decisions, ultimately transforming them into ruthless criminals themselves. While the series explores the psychological toll of their actions, it often skirts the issue of genuine accountability. A truly fitting conclusion would see the Byrdes' carefully constructed facade crumble, their elaborate schemes exposed, and their entire family, including their children, facing serious charges for their involvement in the cartel's operations. The final shot is the Byrdes, once symbols of suburban normalcy, confined to a bleak prison cell, finally forced to confront the consequences of their actions.
In conclusion, while these shows offer compelling narratives and morally complex characters, their consistent disregard for the rule of law necessitates a more stringent form of justice. Mass incarceration may seem like a bleak and unsatisfying ending, but for these shows, it represents the only truly honest and morally consistent conclusion. It serves as a stark reminder that actions have consequences, and that even the most charismatic anti-hero must ultimately face the piper. Sometimes, the most satisfying ending is not one of redemption or triumphant survival, but one of stark accountability, where the perpetrators of countless crimes are finally held responsible for the destruction they have wrought. And for "Yellowstone" and its brethren, that means a lifetime spent contemplating their choices behind bars.
